Accor Hotels brand profile

As I examine different hotel chains and their loyalty programs this month, my objective is to give each major chain an overview of its hotel brands, their market segments such as midscale, upscale and luxury, and geographical distribution.

Loyalty program basics, elite member benefits and hotel award stays will be explained, sometimes with anecdotal experiences beyond the published terms.

Comparative similarities and differences between the most common hotel loyalty programs and hotel chains will be included in commentary.

Each hotel loyalty program will be covered in multiple posts to segment the hotel chain and loyalty program descriptions.

Accor Hotels – Le Club Accorhotels

This series starts with Accor Hotels, probably the hotel chain I know the least about in terms of actually staying in their hotel brands. Despite not being a frequent guest with Accor Hotels, I have earned 4,000 loyalty points valid for $120 in room credit certificates through Facebook activities the company held in their quest to reach one million likes over the past couple of years. They now have over 1.55 million ‘Likes’ on the Accor Facebook page.

Le Club Accorhotels offers instant Platinum at regular occurrences. I have held Platinum elite status a couple of times, yet never stayed at their hotels during my high elite years. There are only eight Sofitel and Novotel hotels in the USA.

In September 2011 Accor Hotels announced major changes. Since 2012 the Accor Hotels loyalty program changed name from A|Club to Le Club Accorhotels and several of the hotel brands changed names. Accor owned Motel 6 in the USA and Canada and sold that brand in 2012 with about 1,000 franchised hotels to Blackstone Group, the owner of Hilton Worldwide.

The Accor Hotels USA website is completely different in 2014 if you have not visited in the past year.

Final note is this is an extremely text intensive post of nearly 6,000 words. This is designed to be a reference post by using a large amount of Accor Hotels self-descriptions of its 15 hotel brands. Most posts in this hotel loyalty program overview will be far shorter.

Accor Hotels – Le Club Accorhotels

Accor Hotels is a global hotel chain headquartered in France.

There are around 2,700 hotels worldwide participating in Le Club Accorhotels in 13 brands.

This is first hotel program overview for 2014. My personal experience with Accor Hotels is primarily an online interaction. I have only seen a few Accor Hotels in the past decade. The Accor Hotels website has been tailored for a USA audience. My piece uses self-descriptors from the Accor Hotels corporate website. This is a reasonable approach to share hotel brand descriptions from the online presence and examine the marketing descriptions of a hotel chain’s individual brands. The white boxes are Accor Hotels website brand descriptions.

Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30,000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “art de vivre”.

Sofitel has opened 15 new establishments since end of 2011, with approximately 3,000 rooms and suites. Starting with the first Sofitel Thalassa sea & spa in Agadir (Morocco), to the first Sofitel in India, Sofitel Mumbai Bandra Kurla, Sofitel also developed in Auckland (New Zealand), Abu Dhabi, Bangkok (Thailand), Casablanca (Morocco) and Montevideo (Uruguay) and Dubaï (United Arab Emirates).

The brand is also accelerating its expansion in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia with the signing of 7 new contracts (approximately 3,000 rooms) in 2012 and 2013, including Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Bali (Indonesia), Auckland (New Zealand), Shenyang in China and Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.

Pullman hotels and resorts welcome international, cosmopolitan seasoned travelers from all over the world for business and leisure stays. Pullman is the executive lifestyle upscale hotel brand: a new generation of hotels for a new generation of mobile, hyper-connected customers.

Pullman’s warm, expert welcome and customized offers and services provide its guests with an innovative, efficient hotel experience whether they are staying for business or leisure.

Connectivity

In Pullman hotels, connectivity is no longer limited to specific areas; it is a fully-fledged concept, a high-speed, mobile, intuitive and safe digital experience that is both enjoyable and efficient. The concept is available throughout the hotel, from the lobby to the swimming pool.

Restaurants

Pullman proposes enticing cuisine that draws on the best of international classics and national or regional culinary specialties. Guests can also discover a selection of fine wines from the Vinoteca by Pullman. The Open Kitchen concept features an open kitchen, letting guests discover the talent and savoir-faire of Pullman chefs.

The Pullman network comprises more than 80 hotels, located in Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East in major cities and prime tourist destinations. Our objective is to have 150 hotels worldwide by 2015-2020.

MGallery is a Collection of high-end hotels all around the world. Each hotel of the Collection stages with talent a unique personality and story, experienced by guests through its architecture, interior design and services.

Each hotel is inspired by one of the three typical atmospheres of the Collection. Some hotels present ”Heritage” origins, places filled with history; others reflect an aesthetic universe, a style, the “Signature” of a personality that contributed to their creation or decoration; still others promise a relaxing time, “Serenity” in a natural or urban retreat.

All hotels of the Collection invite guests to experience “Memorable Moments”.

Grand Mercure has operated in the Asia Pacific region for almost twenty years, establishing itself as a distinctive upscale collection of hotels and apartment hotels in key business and resort locations around the region.

Each Grand Mercure hotel is anchored around ‘Discover a new authentic’ with the hotel connected closely to its local area through its design, welcome and partnerships.

There are three different styles of Grand Mercure properties:

Grand Mercure Hotels

Grand Mercure hotels are located in major cities offering superior levels of comfort and style.

Grand Mercure (Mei Jue) is our purpose-designed Chinese adaption of Grand Mercure. The brand is designed for travellers in China who enjoy having the familiarity of an upscale hotel brand that speaks and appeals to Chinese travellers and is complemented by the hospitality know-how, distribution and reassurance of an international hotel group. Mei Jue is a pioneering brand that is growing rapidly across China. A 65-hotel network planned by 2015

Grand Mercure Apartments: In Australia and New-Zealand these luxury apartments form an important part of the Grand Mercure portfolio. Located in some of the region’s most important cities and resort areas, they offer great flexibility and independence for upscale travellers looking for apartment style space and facilities, whether it be for extended stays or for a shorter weekend break.

The Sebel is a brand of premium apartments offering guests seeking a higher level of independence and control, an inspiring accommodation experience in stylish and spacious surrounds supported by exemplary, personable service that is both welcoming and knowledgeable.

Premium apartments

The Sebel provides spacious living where guests can easily relax, settle in and feel at home in their surroundings whilst enjoying the headspace they wouldn’t normally experience in a hotel. Apartments are furnished with the finest decor and provide separate living areas and a dining table for entertaining or business purposes. Guests enjoy an independent and self sufficient stay with kitchen and laundry facilities.

The Sebel Lounge provides an extension of the guests’ living space within the hotel. The Lounge is an inviting area for guests to linger and read a novel, magazine or newspaper and stay connected to their outside world in warm , comfortable and homely surrounds.

The Sebel Host

Guests are greeted by an attentive and friendly host providing them with a sense of familiarity rather than the anonymity they usually experience at a hotel. Our hosts ‘surprise and delight ’ our guests with their knowledge of the local area and are able to source theatre tickets, make restaurant bookings and provide information on the latest ‘must-do’ activities in the area. The host exudes a ‘nothing is too hard’ attitude.

Born in 1967, Novotel is a 4-stars International midscale brand for business & leisure travelers, with hotels located in the heart of major international cities, business districts and tourist destinations.

Guestrooms: Contemporary design, Flexibility & Technology

The guestroom, designed by Atome Associés, suits and satisfies the needs of international leisure travelers (including families) and business guests alike with various sleeping options (standard, twin, family). What characterizes the room is: space, transparency and light. In addition, Novotel renews its commitment to and passion for contemporary art by celebrating digital photography inside every room. The contemporary bathroom presents a glass partition and eco-friendly materials and amenities. Novotel’s room is also equipped with technology: a connectivity panel, a Philips docking station, free Wi-Fi, etc.3 color palettes are available: blue, red and yellow.

Food & Beverage: 24 hours catering solutions

Whether in the warm ambiance of the restaurant or the privacy of guestrooms, Novotel adapts to the pace of each guest and offers specific Food & Beverage solutions accordingly. Novotel provides 4 breakfast offers (“Early bird”, “City Breakfast”, buffet breakfast and room service) and 3 lunch or dinner offers (at the restaurant, at the bar and in-room).

Family&Novotel: expertise in family stays

Thanks to the Family&Novotel offer, children are treated as customers in their own rights, with a special kid-centered strategy. The accommodation and breakfast are free for children under 16*. The offer also includes: late checkout until 5 pm on Sundays, children welcome giveaways & play areas, Microsoft XBOX 360, special kid’s menus and baby equipment (upon request).* Free accommodation and breakfast for 2 children under 16 sharing their parents’ or grandparents’ room, or a second room for your children at half the price of your own room.

In Balance by Novotel: Relaxation & Wellbeing

In Balance by Novotel provides a range of services created for all clients looking to re-energize during their hotel stay: fitness & wellness areas, swimming pools, terraces & gardens, balanced & varied menus.

Novotel: Committed to Sustainable Development

With PLANET 21, Accor’s sustainable development program, Novotel commits itself to the planet!

Always a pioneer, the brand wishes to anticipate customer expectations and meet environmental and social challenges. This is why Novotel has chosen to rely on world renowned environmental certification, ISO 14001, to structure its sustainable development strategy.

Within the Novotel Family, Suite Novotel nurtures an off-beat, avant-garde spirit that invites medium-stay guests to experience a new way of hotel living. Discover our 30 square-metre modular suites and a wide range of services which give you total freedom for work and relaxation such as relaxing massages, the loan of a Smart, the Boutique Gourmande and the Suite Box.

A hotel composed exclusively of Suites

Suite Novotel offers only Suites, each measuring 30m². They are real living quarters and can be arranged to suit the guest’s needs: an area for sleeping, for working, or for relaxing.The guest can also stay connected to the outside world thanks to the Suite Box: Internet, telephone to national landlines, videos and music. The Suite Box is free and unlimited.Suite Novotel has launched anew generation Suite in response to the changing demands of its guests. This new Suite combines high design and innovation. The new properties in Perpignan, Luxembourg, Malaga, Paris Issy les Moulineaux are all equipped with the new Suite.

Eat and drink as you like!

At Suite Novotel, guests can dine the way they like, at any time of day or night, thanks to the Boutique Gourmande. They’ll find a vast choice of high-end snacks, hot dishes, desserts and drinks, all combining enjoyment and balance. And they are free to choose where they want to eat: in the lobby, in their Suite, or outside the hotel. To get off to a good start, Suite Novotel offers its Good Morning breakfast, which features balanced choices and original recipes developed by a chef and a nutritionist.

An innovation that makes the difference: the Suite Box

All Suite Novotel Suites are equipped with the Suite Box. With it, guests are free to surf the net with high-speed access and make as many phone calls as they want (to landlines in the country) or browse their photos. They also enjoy a wide choice of entertainment options, including videos and music. With the Suite Box, all these services are free and unlimited.

•And for hotel living that offers complete freedom: Suite Novotel offers guests staying more than 4 days the use of a Smart car, at no charge.

Families are welcome

Suite Novotel has everything to make families feel welcome: accommodation and breakfast with the family are free for two children under the age of 16 who share the Suite of their parents or grandparents. In addition, there’s a welcome gift for each child on arrival.

Mercure is the only midscale hotel brand that combines the strength of an international network with a strong quality commitment, and the warm experience of hotels, all different, rooted in their local community and managed by enthusiastic hoteliers.Located in city centers, by the sea or in the mountains, the Mercure network welcomes business and leisure travelers across the world.

Warm, personalised, contemporary rooms

Our rooms are all different but they all share the same contemporary approach to comfort and aestheticism.

Mercure rooms are authentic, in a contemporary way, and have locally inspired touches : decorative motifs, prints, pictures, furniture…They are welcoming, spotlessly clean, with high-quality furnishings.Seeking to live up clients’ expectations, Mercure has created the Privilège Room, a room designed to provide even more comfort, service and quality.

Mercure is proud to celebrate the hospitable spirit of each locality

The friendly professionals teams are familiar with the local culture. They provide advice on how to best enjoy the rich offering of the area.From the decor of public areas to the specialties proposed in restaurants, everything is designed to help guests appreciate what’s different about the place — its colors, its accents, its fragrances.Decorative motifs, warm textures and local design touches are used sparingly and tastefully to evoke what’s most appealing about each destination.

Large and diverse network

Mercure’s expansion strategy is aimed at creating a dense network in every country where it operates. Thus, it is focusing its efforts on Europe and the new markets in Asia and is implementing an ambitious redeployment plan that will result in 1,000 hotels by 2015. Reaching this goal will confirm Mercure’s prime position in the world hotel industry.

Aparthotels Adagio, No. 1 in Europe, offer modern and spacious apartments with a fully equipped kitchen, and as well hotel services in urban locations for extended stays, based on attractive tiered pricing from fourth night onwards. First established in 2007, the brand provides two product ranges: Adagio, contempory midscale aparthotels at the heart of Europe’s leading cities; and Adagio access, economy range, functional aparthotels located on cities’ doorstep.

Fully equipped apartments for greater comfort

Several apartment sizes to cater for all needs: from studios to two-bedroom apartments.A fully equipped kitchen for independent living, with a refrigerator, microwave with grill function, ceramic or electric hob, worktop, crockery and utensils, coffee maker and/or electric kettle, dining table and dishwasher.**only at Adagio

The apartments are also equipped with a flat-screen television with a wide range of national and international channels and a free Wi-Fi or broadband Internet connection.

Hotel services for greater peace of mind

A real spirit of welcome and service, backed up by the presence of our teams 24/7 to ensure your complete safety and to answer any questions. Internet access and weekly cleaning are also included.

In addition, for even greater comfort and peace of mind, Adagio offers a wide range of optional services, including a breakfast buffet, a launderette, dry-cleaning, supplementary daily cleaning, car park, pets and even meal deliveries.

A special offer for stays of more than a month

Aparthotels Adagio is perfect for extended stays. The booking process is simple, with no administrative formalities and no deposit. The price is all-inclusive, with no separate electricity, phone or Internet bill.A new booking engine on adagio-city.com is now available for stays of more than a month.For stays of more than a month, the Adagio range is pleased to offer to its guests:

The Welcome Pack contains local organic products that you can use to prepare a meal on arrival, at any time of the day or night.

The Serenity Kit, in partnership with Keiji, provides cosmetics and extras essential to your well-being throughout the stay.

European hotel economic leader, ibis offers you the ultimate comfort: a new innovative bedding designed by the ibis Research Department, a comfortable and well-equipped room, modern and design welcome areas. Caring and efficient, ibis ensures the highest level of service of its category: a 24 hour reception, breakfast from 4:00 am to midday, light meals served round the clock and a non-stop bar. An ISO 9001 certified guarantee of quality and illustrated by the “15 minutes satisfaction” contract. With more than 983 ibis hotels in 58 countries, whatever the reason for your stay, ibis has the hotel you are looking for!

An ultimate comfort offer

The ibis room: modern, comfortable and well-equippedIn every hotel of the network, the ibis room is designed to offer to its guests a happy sleep and the possibility to work calmly: soundproof, connected to the hotel Wi-Fi, with a flat screen LCD TV, a spacious bathroom and a desk.

Brand new bed, brand new comfortIbis, the good-night’s-sleep specialist, has developed an innovative and revolutionary bedding concept. Pillows are fluffy, the duvet is super-soft and the high-tech mattress aligns with the density points which provides your body, so your sleep will be deep and refreshing. And the ibis secret weapon is a 7cm topper of extra comfort for a soft and welcoming feel. Unique in the economy hotel segment, the new ibis bed will transform your nights!* *Deployment in process

The highest level of service in its category

Enjoy a smooth stay

Day and night, our teams are at your disposalOur teams are here to streamline your stay. We’ve got a 24 hour reception, an ibis kitchen serving hot and cold dishes day or night and a non-stop bar.

A commitment to service qualityA commitment to service qualityFrom 1997, ibis was the first economy hotel brand to be quality certified ISO 9001. This international standard is about a warm welcome at any time day or night, light meals served round the clock, breakfast from 4am to 12 noon and a non-stop bar service. Today, 832 ibis hotels in 35 countries are ISO 9001 certified, that is 85% of the network.

The 15 Minutes Satisfaction GuaranteeThe “15 minutes satisfaction” contract is a unique illustration of ibis’s commitment to customer service. If a little hitch threatens to cloud your stay, do not hesitate in letting us know at any time, day or night. The ibis teams have 15 minutes on the clock to sort it out. And if they do not manage to chase away this pesky cloud in the specified time, that service is on the hotel.

Offers for sleeping at the best price

The “Special Weekend” deal is designed for leisure customers and offers a lower rate for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, public holidays and the eve of public holidays**.

The “LongWeekend” deal for two or three-night stays (the longer you stay the less you pay) offers discounts of 15% to 30%.

The “Hotel+activities“ deal combines an overnight stay with an added activity (cultural, sports or relaxation) chosen by the hotel**.Special services for keen sportsmen and women with the ibisport package**: attractive rates and specific advantages (balanced meals bursting with vitamins, a picnic lunch to take with you, meeting room for debriefing, sports press, etc.). For registered members of sports clubs travelling for a competition during weekends in a selection of over 500 hotels worldwide.**See terms and conditions on ibishotel.com

HAPPY 20 “The earlier you book, the less you pay”. Customers booking a stay at least 20 days in advance pay less. This discount is available only on the ibishotel.com and accorhotels.com websites, in 40 countries and over 800 hotels worldwideExclusive offers All year long, the ibishotel.com website offers special, exclusive deals for most of its destinations and hotels.

Ibis, a pionneer in environmental commitment

Ibis is committed to PLANET 21, ACCOR group’s sustainable development program. Ibis is the first global chain to commit to the ISO 14001 environmental certification procedure which calls for very careful steering from the hotel’s management team, involving: – Constant respect for the latest regulations – Continuous improvement: certified hotels are audited on a regular basis so that they can set themselves new objectives.More than 560 hotels in 30 countries have obtained ISO 14001 certification.

The stylishly designed hotels where the little extras don’t cost extra!

A non-standardised economy and design brand aimed at all those who are looking for “the best of the best”, ibis Styles offers an all-inclusive package, with room rates including breakfast and internet access.

Situated in the heart of cities and in other major centres of activity, each establishment has its own distinct personality and reflects a colourful, bright and energetic brand spirit with a hint of humour. Simplicity, interactivity, quality and conviviality are the brand’s core values.

The hotel for big nights in

Taking centre stage, the majestic bed is the focal point of each ibis Styles room, a liveable, multi-purpose space where everything has been specifically designed for guests to recharge their batteries, rest or work.

In a place that blends connectivity (flat-screen TV, multimedia connections) with design and comfort, light is a key element that helps to create a sense of personal feel and well-being.

The hotel where the price includes it all

ibis styles offers an “all-inclusive” package including the room, all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast and broadband internet access. Plus, the brand’s generosity also extends to a host of extra amenities: a conviviality area offering complimentary tea, coffee, water, newspapers and magazines; an interactive computer terminal with internet access and a Golden Book where guests can leave feedback; a welcome gift on arrival; popular children’s TV channels; and many more besides…

The design hotel

Even though they are all different, ibis styles hotels are easily recognisable. Furniture, amenities, the use of light and the layout have all been carefully selected in order to create a distinctive style, with design central to the brand’s thinking. In each hotel, the words easy-on-the-eye, colour, light, energy, generosity, conviviality and humour always mesh together to strike the right chord.

ibis Styles, the hotels where parents are also accepted

ibis Styles’ family suites can accommodate 2 adults and up to 2 children under 16 years of age at extremely attractive rates. Similarly, their facilities and services, such as high chairs, bottle warmers and folding cribs on request in rooms, as well as special kids menus in restaurants and kids corners in hotels, guarantee that all the family will feel right at home. Finally, all children receive a welcome gift on arrival.

Your meeting at ibis Styles

Your meeting at all seasonsSome ibis Styles hotels are equipped with meeting rooms, which offer an ‘all-inclusive´ package. This includes hire of the room, internet access, coffee breaks or meals (at night), all technical equipment and a range of other amenities. Total simplicity for effective meetings!

ibis Styles, extremely dynamic growth

The brand boasts over 100 hotels in France, 19 in Germany, 7 in Italy, 5 in the United Kingdom, 3 in Spain as well as in Belgium, in Luxembourg, in the Netherlands, in Sweden and in Austria . Switzerland, Egypt, Poland and Malaysia have also joined the network in 2012.

With more than 40 hotels in Asia-Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, you can now find more than 190 ibis Styles hotels in 18 countries across the world.

ibis Styles is committed to PLANET 21, Accor group’s sustainable development program

Seawater therapy is both our profession and our passion. It offers uncontestable health benefits for your cardio-vascular, respiratory, and circulatory systems as well as boosts metabolism and bone density. We are devoted to sharing our knowledge and savoir-faire through carefully targeted, personalized treatment programs conceived to reinvigorate body and soul.

The compelling allure of Thalassa sea & spa

Thalassa sea & spa offers the best of both worlds: the sea, whose benefits are an inexhaustible source of vitality, and the spa, synonymous with pleasure and relaxation

We focus on lasting physical well-being using a global approach that features body treatments, exercise, and nutrition. Unwind and reenergize thanks to stimulating seawater treatments delivered in a marvelously warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Thalassa sea & spa also means a choice of 3 to 5 star hotels that fit into any budget. Associated restaurants offer the opportunity to savor nutritionally balanced, flavorful gourmet dishes highlighting the best the sea has to offer.

Accommodation and rooms package

With Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, MGallery, ibis and Pullman, the Thalassa sea & spa network integrates the establishments from several Accor Group hotel brands.

The remaining two hotel brands Ibis Budget and HotelF1 described below are Economy market segment brands of Accor Hotels and neither hotel brand participates in Le Club Accorhotels hotel loyalty program. Even though hotel stays at these two brands will not earn Le Club Accorhotels points, the two brands offer about 750 hotels and have a significant presence in the Accor Hotels chain.

Practical, simple and economicalWith hotelF1, you have access to 239 budget hotels all over France. Sleep well in a trio room or a duo room from €29 a night.In business for over 25 years, hotelF1 (former Formule1) offers clean, convenient rooms for 1, 2 or 3 people at the lowest price, 24/7.

Accomodation

The trio room has a double bed and a single bed overhead, very convenient for families, and the duo room has 2 single beds, very pleasant for professional visits or for friends. These rooms are equipped with a wash-corner, handy storage and new technologies such as: a flat-screen TV with multimedia socket for video games.At hotelF1 you can also enjoy a good Tonus buffet breakfast (all you can eat) and snacks at all hours (hot/cold snack vending machines).

hotelF1: a modern brand completely in sync with the times!

hotelF1 lives it up the social networks On its Facebook page hotelF1 does much more than just present its service offer. The brand interacts with fans, presenting animations, games and exclusive special deals such as its rooms at €9.99.

To stay abreast of new technologies and simplify booking hotelF1 also created its own mobile app, allowing smartphone users to always have the address of the nearest budget hotel at their fingertips!

Ibis budget, essential comfort at a budget price.European leader in budget hotels with about 500 hotels in 17 countries, ibis budget offers to its guests cocoon rooms and cosy beds for one to three people, super-soft duvets and new pillows, extra-large shower stalls, Wi-Fi Internet access and an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Quite simply the smart choice at the right price.

The cocoon concept

A unique experience in the budget hotel segment: new rooms and public areas– More Stylish: rounded shapes, wood and soft colors. – More comfort: a soft duvet, parquet style flooring, a spacious shower. – More functionalities: 26’ flat screen TV, water flow regulator, Eco-friendly building material.The ibis budget cocoon concept for the latest-generation rooms and is deployed on new construction and renovation projects throughout the network.

New public areas

In 2012, ibis budget redesigned its public areas with a focus on optimizing these living areas in a nifty and playful way to create a warm, friendly atmosphere.

The breakfast room is cleverly lit and equipped with a flat-screen television. It features larger, communal tables with comfortable chairs alternating high and low seating. Guests can enjoy a tasty all-you-can-eat buffet, relax in front of their favorite programs on television or browse the web thanks to the free WiFi Internet access in major hotels.

Development objectives

The ibis budget network aims to strengthen its leadership in the budget segment, with a target of more than 600 hotels and 60,000 rooms before 2015.

The development strategy focuses on:

Reinforcing the network in mature markets in Europe: France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Developing the network in new markets: Morocco, Portugal and Asia-Pacific (Indonesia and soon South Korea). Deploying the new cocoon concept in new construction and renovation projects.

Choosing highly visibly, easily accessible locations, along major roads, near airports and in large cities.

*****

Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.

Comments

I have stayed at Mercure, Sofitel and Ibis. The wheelchair access adapted rooms have been uneven — with adaptations that are unnecessary or difficult to use for wheelchair users. In the Mercure Palermo the wheelchair adapted bathroom was overly gizmo’d out making it hard to get the wheelchair next to the toilet and the uneven floor, recessed to catch water from the shower, put the wheelchair off balance — making transfers dangerous. The Sofitel Auckland wheelchair adapted room faced a noisy bus terminal. Not my idea of luxury as a Platinum member.

I travel a lot but haven’t yet had enough experience to make my final verdict on these brands — though the brands would not be my first recommendation for wheelchair users.
CaroleZoom

Invariably, at the center of every European city, right where you want to stay, is at least one hotel from the Accor chain. I wish we had an easy way to score their Le Club points here in the USA. I keep thinking AmEx Master Rewards should add them as a transfer option.

Accor is a decent enough loyalty program that I’d rank behind the majors that are well-known in the US, but is one you could line up to take advantage of when planning a trip in Europe, Asia or South America. Accor has a big footprint in those regions compared to very small presences by Hilton, Starwood and IHG, for example.

For Le Club, you simply need to book all reservations through the company’s site for stays to be eligible, and you must have at least one stay every 12 months to keep your account active. If you don’t refresh your account with a new stay, all your points will be lost. It’s a bit of a pain, but at least straightforward. Points build up pretty slowly, unless you can get the free Platinum status that is often offered online.